cheron98

Due to the bottle limitations for tasting and space issues in my house, this event will be limited to the first 24 people who CONFIRM that they are coming. Overflow will be listed on a first-come-first-served basis. Maybes are listed in no particular order.

Have you wanted to try all of the Woot Cellars wines but haven't been able to get your hands on some of them?

HERE'S YOUR CHANCE!

I have (or will soon have) in my possession at least one bottle of every Woot Cellars wine created - all the way back to the original Rinfrescante. If any further offers show up between now and the time of this gathering, they will also be in attendance.

LOCAL HOTEL RECOMMENDATIONSAll hotels listed are within 5 miles from my house.

Chez Octocat - accommodations for up to the first 4 couples or 5 guests (1 queen bed (guest room #1), 2 queen airbeds (guest room #2 and basement), 1 full futon, 1 couch). I have a third queen airbed but I dunno where to put it now that there's a futon.

CHICAGOEstimated time from my place to the Chicago Skyway is 4 hours. If you're coming from the Chicago area and we end up doing the winery thing on Sunday, it may behoove you to head home afterwards, since we'll already be on the other side of the state. The Skyway is approximately 1 hour from the LMS Wine Trail. Of course, you're welcome to come back and take part in whatever Monday activities there are.

Out-of-towners may wish also to get in some Chicago time while out here if you have a car with you. You can always fly into Detroit and fly out of Chicago, and then just head to the Chicago area after the wine trail and spend Monday in Chicago.

TRANSPORTATIONFor taxi service from/to the airport for our out-of-town friends, might I suggest Metro Airport Taxi, which has reasonable rates - $34 each way between my place and the airport. I am more than happy to come get people, however, I don't want to be spending too many hours going back and forth to the airport.

For Friday arrivals:If you arrive in the evening, I will be more than happy to do an airport run after work to come get you. Offer is limited to the first 3 people arriving. Small car and all.

For Saturday arrivals:As long as you arrive at least 2 hours prior to the event, I can come pick you up. I don't mind making 2 trips in the day, so we'll see what arrival times look like for arranging pick up.

For Sunday or Monday departures:If you wish to depart on Sunday or Monday morning, arrangements can be made to drop you off before whatever group activity happens. If the group activity is still in the area, we can try to work something out.

For Tuesday departures:I have to work. If your flight is in the morning, I am happy to bring you to the airport before I go to work, but it's gonna be crack-of-dawn early.

If you are in the McNamara terminal (Delta airlines & its partners), plan on it taking approx 30 minutes to get from check-in to the gate. Add about 10 minutes if you're checking bags.

If you are in the North terminal (everything else), plan on it taking approx 45 minutes to get from check-in to the gate. Add about 10 minutes if you're checking bags.

FRIDAYArrivals:tommy & +1 @ TBD, Driving

We can do dinner or something - will figure out when we know what time you'll be here.

SUNDAYLake Michigan Shore Wine TrailDue to space limitations at the wineries, we are being asked to limit our group size to 15. Thus, the first 15 who sign up will be able to go, and I would like to give preference to those who are from out-of-town, since locals should be able to fairly easily take a weekend of their own sometime to go. Thanks for understanding...
9:00am: Departure from my place
12:00 - 1:50pm: Domaine Berrien Cellars & Winery - $5 tasting fee, picnic lunch
2:00 - 2:45pm: Lemon Creek Winery - Art Fair, $1 per tasting, no reservations
3:00 - 4:15pm: Round Barn Winery/Brewery/Distillery - $7.50 tasting fee w/take-home glass
4:30 - 7:00pm: Tabor Hill Winery & Restaurant - No tasting fee, dinner bill will be split among individuals

cheron98

I should mention I have some sleeping space on a first come first served basis. I have 2 guest rooms + a basement, a damn comfy couch, and floor space behind it. One guest room has a queen bed, the other, the basement, and the floor space all accommodate queen sized air mattresses. So if you come with a +1, there's space for both.

I also have 2 full bathrooms aside from my own personal one, so that's not an issue. Hopefully this will help some people since it cuts down the cost of hotel

I am about 30 minutes from DTW airport, which comes to approx $35 cab ride, but if timings are done properly, I'm fine with a trip or two to pick people up.

You're welcome to come and stay as long as you need to make travel arrangements as cheap and hassle-free as you need

ddeuddeg

This sounds like a can't miss event to me. I have to be at graduation on the 22nd, so that weekend is out for me, but the rest of the month should work. I'm supposed to be somewhere on the 28th, but I wouldn't mind an excuse to beg off. Pending final date selection, you should count on us.

"Always keep a bottle of Champagne in the fridge for special occasions. Sometimes the special occasion is that you've got a bottle of Champagne in the fridge". - Hester Browne

cheron98

ddeuddeg wrote:This sounds like a can't miss event to me. I have to be at graduation on the 22nd, so that weekend is out for me, but the rest of the month should work. I'm supposed to be somewhere on the 28th, but I wouldn't mind an excuse to beg off. Pending final date selection, you should count on us.

cheron98

We have a few lovely wineries out west if people are up for a day trip drive from here. I found one in particular that I enjoyed quite a bit, that does wine, beer, and ... vodka. Or at least "vodka". vodka from grapes. And it's tasty. Chicago peeps can do the day at wineries with the rest of us then continue on their way back home if they so desire (if we do this after the tasting). Or if it's before, Chicago peeps can meets us there and then caravan back to my place.

Tigers are also playing at home that weekend vs Oakland with night games on Friday and Saturday, and afternoon games on Sunday and Monday. Inexpensive tickets and it makes for a nice adventure - that was fun last time.

We also have some lovely parks to enjoy. As well as a number of fun restaurants. And nice downtown areas that aren't Downtown. Um... lots of shopping centers - one up near the Palace that has a Gameworks which is fun. Bowling. Casinos.

tommythecat78

cheron98 wrote:I should mention I have some sleeping space on a first come first served basis. I have 2 guest rooms + a basement, a damn comfy couch, and floor space behind it. One guest room has a queen bed, the other, the basement, and the floor space all accommodate queen sized air mattresses. So if you come with a +1, there's space for both.

I also have 2 full bathrooms aside from my own personal one, so that's not an issue. Hopefully this will help some people since it cuts down the cost of hotel

I am about 30 minutes from DTW airport, which comes to approx $45 cab ride, but if timings are done properly, I'm fine with a trip or two to pick people up.

You're welcome to come and stay as long as you need to make travel arrangements as cheap and hassle-free as you need

ddeuddeg

Sarcastic? Moi? Mais non!
I've always enjoyed my visits to Motown. Too bad the Pontchartrain Wine Cellars is defunct, though. I loved that restaurant.
How far away are the wineries you're talking about? We have to make sure we can drive back, you know.

"Always keep a bottle of Champagne in the fridge for special occasions. Sometimes the special occasion is that you've got a bottle of Champagne in the fridge". - Hester Browne

ddeuddeg

ddeuddeg wrote:Sarcastic? Moi? Mais non!
I've always enjoyed my visits to Motown. Too bad the Pontchartrain Wine Cellars is defunct, though. I loved that restaurant.
How far away are the wineries you're talking about? We have to make sure we can drive back, you know.

EDIT: Closing in on 2000 posts.

"Always keep a bottle of Champagne in the fridge for special occasions. Sometimes the special occasion is that you've got a bottle of Champagne in the fridge". - Hester Browne

cheron98

ddeuddeg wrote:Sarcastic? Moi? Mais non!
I've always enjoyed my visits to Motown. Too bad the Pontchartrain Wine Cellars is defunct, though. I loved that restaurant.
How far away are the wineries you're talking about? We have to make sure we can drive back, you know.

cheron98

I'm thinking that if people want to do the winery thing one day, that we can either do lunch or dinner at Tabor Hill Winery & Restaurant - the restaurant is quite nice (ate there on my way home from Chicago last time) and their wines aren't too shabby. At least, not the ones they don't massively distribute to all the Meijers and other grocery stores around here. I had a lovely Kerner with my grilled quail and it was simply delightful!

And at that time of year, sitting out on the deck overlooking the vineyard there while dining would be a very viable option. There's close to a dozen wineries on the Lake Michigan Shore wine trail that are near Tabor Hill, so we don't have to go too far between stops. I've been to a couple. Even enjoyed a few reds at some (shock!).

bahwm

Not for me.. are you sure something hasn't happened to your timezone settings?

Who knows? The clock on my computer is currently correct. The woot times are one hour earlier. Time setting in System Prefs is manually set, but also shows EST. Maybe that's the prob, but why is the web time different? *scratches head*

May our love be like good wine, grow stronger as it grows older. ~ Old English Toast

cheron98

bahwm wrote:Who knows? The clock on my computer is currently correct. The woot times are one hour earlier. Time setting in System Prefs is manually set, but also shows EST. Maybe that's the prob, but why is the web time different? *scratches head*

cheron98

ddeuddeg wrote:I won't know until it gets closer to that time how much of the weekend I can spare, but we're planning on coming. Are we talking Saturday for the actual tasting?

EDIT: That seem to be what it says on the opening post. Duh!

Yeah I figured it'd be best to hold the tasting on Saturday as usual so that people who can't commit the whole weekend can still come, and those who would like to and are able to stick around until Monday can partake of whatever activity we decide to do on Sunday (which I am seriously leaning towards heading out to the Lake Michigan Shore trail, but will of course defer to the group as to what activity should be pursued).

ddeuddeg

cheron98 wrote:Yeah I figured it'd be best to hold the tasting on Saturday as usual so that people who can't commit the whole weekend can still come, and those who would like to and are able to stick around until Monday can partake of whatever activity we decide to do on Sunday (which I am seriously leaning towards heading out to the Lake Michigan Shore trail, but will of course defer to the group as to what activity should be pursued).

I won't know for a couple of months, but I might just wind up presiding over the event I was hoping to weasel out of on Friday night. In that case, we'd be driving in on Saturday, in time for the tasting (provided we don't get held up at the border by some simple-minded Philistine wondering why I have a friend in Detroit). We might be doing that anyway. We'll see.

"Always keep a bottle of Champagne in the fridge for special occasions. Sometimes the special occasion is that you've got a bottle of Champagne in the fridge". - Hester Browne

oppsie

Can't do Memorial Weekend so you'll just have to enjoy without me. If you need an extra bottle of something, let me know, I have dupes of most WC wines still and would be happy to donate something to remember me by.

bhodilee

oppsie wrote:Can't do Memorial Weekend so you'll just have to enjoy without me. If you need an extra bottle of something, let me know, I have dupes of most WC wines still and would be happy to donate something to remember me by.

Remembering presumes someone would forget you in the first place, that's just crazy talk!

"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it."

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